Air float



Dec. 15, 1931. J MEGO 1,836,928

AIR FLOAT Filed Jan. 28, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l J. MEGO 1,836,928

AIR FLOAT Filed Jan. 28, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 awuentoz Jilliqv]: JZ/fg $3 1M5 61mm:

Patented Dec. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH mo, WES'I'OBLNGE, NEW JERSEY AIR I'IOA'J.

Application filed Ianuary 88, 1981. Serial 1T0. 511,728.

This invention-relates to improvements in aircraft, and particularly to an air float, and it is the principle object of my invention to provide an airfloat the body of which has substantially the shape of two frustrums of a tetrahedral pyramid placed with the bases to ther and equi ped with a plurality of gas cc and cabins fbr the reception of passengers, crew, instruments, etc.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an airfloat of this character, provided with a median lifting propeller arranged midshi in a roomy, vertical tunnel.

A further 0 ject of my invention is the provision of an airfloat, the housing or body of which is so formed that it presents a sharp frontal edge adapted to cut the air and to guide the same aft, floating along bevelled or inclined faces.

80 A still further object of my invention is the provision of an an float allowing a vertical ascent or descent, and a rapid propulsion while being of a comparatively simple and strong construction and highly eflicient in 3 operation.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will become more fully known as the description thereof proceeds and will then be specifically defined in the appended 30 claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an airfloat constructed according to my invention.

a Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a front end elevation of my novel and improved airfloat.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the Fig. 5 is a rear end view.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary prospective view of the airfloat illustrating the entrance to the same.

15 As illustrated, the body 10 of the airfloat has substantially the form of two frustrums 11, 12, of a tetrahedral yramid placed with their bases together, an presentmg the upper flat roof 13 equipped with a plurality of 0 windows 14 and a mediancircular chamber 15 for the motor 16 of a lifting or horizontal propeller 17.

In its interior the body 10 is divided by a plurality of artitions 18 into a number of hollow end 0 with gas of a certain lifting and sustaining capacity and central chambers 20,21. Chamr 20 serves as cabin for passengers and is equipped with a plurality of seats 22, while chamber 21 is intended as room for the crew, instruments, freight, etc., and has a seat 23 for the pilot in front of which an upper observation channel 24 and a lower observation channel 25 for the pilot are provided.

The front driving pro Her 26 is driven by a motor 27 within cham r 28.

The fuel tank for the motor driving the horizontal propeller is designated 29 and the fuel tank for the driving motor is designated 30, while an emergency exit in the bottom of the bod is shown at 31.

The airfibat is equipped with the conventional front and rear landing wheels 32 and 33 respectively, and altitude steering planes are shown at 34, 35 while the vertical rudder is designated 37.

At its rear the body has formed in the same a gangway 38 leading from the entrance door 39 to the cabins 20 and 21. This gangway must be wlde enough to allow convenient passage of a person.

In operation, the propeller 17 will allow a ready lifting of the plane or float, while propeller 26 will drive the float. If the driving propeller is out of commission, the liftmg ropeller will keep the float in the air unti repairs are made, or will allow a smooth landing. In order to facilitate keeping the float in the air, the gas cells are filled with an appropriate gas of sustaining capacity.

assengers and crew will be well protected in their cabins, and the shape of the float will allow a cutting ofthe air streaming behind along the bevel faces, thus producing a great saving in fuel. It will be clear that the air float may be made in any suitable size to accommodate any number of persons or quantit of freight.

It wi be understood that I have described and claimed the preferred form of my inven ambers 19 adapted to be filled i tion, and that I may make such changes in its construction as come within the scope of the appended claims without departure from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an airfloat of the character described, a body, a median tunnel therein, a plurality of cabins formed therein at both sides of said tunnel, a plurality of gas cells formed fore and aft in said body, a pilot seat and upwardly and downwardly inclined observation channels in front of said pilot seat, and an emergency trap door formed in the bottom of said airfloat, a lifting propeller and a driving propeller, and a plurality of fuel tanks in said body.

2. In an airfloat, a body having substantially the shape of two frustrums of a tetrahedral pyramid placed with their bases together, a median tunnel formed in said body, a lifting propeller and its motor in said tunnel, a plurality of cabins in said body at both sides of said tunnel, a plurality of gas cells formed fore and aft of said body to both sides of said cabin, a seat for the pilot, one of said frustrums provided with an upwardly inclined and the other with a downwardly inclined observation channel in front of the pilot seat, an emergency trap door in the bottom of said airfloat, a lifting propeller and a. driving propeller, and a plurality of fuel tanks in said body.

In witness whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JOSEPH MEGO. 

